Alcohol and Drug Treatment

Dealing with alcohol or drug addiction? We can help you get your life back on track.

If you or a loved one is struggling with the devastating effects of substance abuse disorder, the team at SunCloud Health can be a healing resource for you.

Whether your issue involves alcohol abuse, addiction to prescription drugs or involvement with illegal “street” drugs, we are ready to help you deal with both the addiction and the root causes.

Led by Kimberly Dennis, MD, one of the nation’s top experts in substance use treatment, SunCloud Health provides caring, effective treatment for men and women facing drug and alcohol addiction. We are an outpatient treatment center located in Northbrook, Illinois, and we have helped hundreds of men and women like you to reclaim their lives from alcohol and drugs.

A closer look at alcohol and drug addiction

You may think of alcohol, prescription pain killers or another street drug as your “drug of choice.” But at SunCloud, we consider it your “drug of no choice” or “drug of addiction.” The idea is that, as addiction takes over, your ability to actually make choices is swiftly taken away. With the drug in command, you may feel totally powerless to regain control of your life.

In helping you start on a path to wellness and balance, we won’t prompt you to ask yourself, “Why the addiction?” Instead, we’ll encourage you to ask yourself, “Why am I in so much pain?”

In our experience, addiction is driven by deeper causes that typically involve physical, spiritual or emotional pain. By dealing with the underlying pain, we will help you exchange unhealthy addictive behaviors for healthier ones – leading to a balanced and abundant life.

At SunCloud Health, we approach addiction treatment in a holistic, integrated and medically informed way. We meet you where you are. As one wise teacher has said, “Only when compassion is present will people allow themselves to see the truth.” We will help you learn to allow pain to be your teacher so you can expand far beyond it rather than seeing pain as the enemy.

The experienced team at SunCloud understands that treating alcohol and drug addiction requires a blend of compassion with advanced medical and psychotherapeutic skill.

From our experience in successfully treating hundreds of patients, we’ve learned that addiction is often paired with other self-destructive or addictive behaviors. People who face a cluster of issues are often described as having co-occurring conditions. They may also be described as having a dual diagnosis.

In caring for those facing drug or alcohol addiction, we dig deep on all fronts. We understand that other sources of emotional pain, and even other addictive behaviors, may have led to your problems with drugs or alcohol. Therefore, we will help you address all of these related factors as you enter treatment.

We also realize that psychiatric conditions such as depression, trauma or anxiety may have played a role in leading to your drug or alcohol use. You may even be abusing other substances to cope with the side effects of your addiction.

These are some of the conditions that are often present with drug or alcohol abuse:

Depression

Anxiety

Eating disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Bipolar Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCD)

What kinds of addiction do you treat?

At SunCloud Health, we work with people who are suffering from just about every form of substance use. We are an outpatient center, which means that you will live at home while taking part in treatment. Depending on your needs, you may be treated through a partial hospitalization plan (PHP) or an intensive outpatient plan (IOP).

We provide effective care to help men and women recover from addiction to:

Alcohol

Cocaine

Heroin and other opiates

Marijuana

Methamphetamines and crystal meth

Prescription drugs such as Klonopin, Adderall, Vicodin, Benzodiazepine, OxyContin and other

Chris Stewart, MD. Board Certified Psychiatrist addresses addiction in adolescence the opioid epidemic and why seeking help soon is a positive first step.

How to know if you or a loved one needs help

Some of the most noticeable symptoms of drug abuse are those that affect the body’s inner workings.

For example, your body’s tolerance for alcohol or drugs may happen when you’ve used that substance so long that you need more to produce the same “high.” You may also crave a more intense effect, therefore drinking more or taking bigger doses, creating risks for a dangerous, even fatal accidents or overdoses.

Here are the signs that you or a loved one may be addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Changes in physical appearance:

Bloodshot or glazed eyes

Dilated or constricted pupils

Abrupt weight changes

Bruises, infections, or other physical signs such as needle marks, nose bleeds

Body and behavioral symptoms:

Increased aggression or irritability

Changes in attitude or personality

Lethargy

Depression

Changes in sleep patterns: sleeping too much or far too little

Sudden changes in social networks, such as hanging out with a whole new group of friends while neglecting longtime friends

Before admitting you as a patient with SunCloud Health, we will explore the questions listed here. But don’t worry: we are here to guide you. This may seem like a lot to consider, but together, we’ll find the answers.

Do you in fact have a substance abuse disorder problem that needs treatment?

Is SunCloud Health the right place for you?

Is there more than one medical or psychiatric condition present?

Is outpatient care the right choice for the issues you’re facing?

About how long will treatment take?

Do you feel comfortable with our team? Do you trust us to help you?

What are your insurance benefits for drug or alcohol addiction treatment and, if applicable, treatment for other conditions such as depression, trauma or PTSD?

How much will your treatment cost out of pocket?

Do you have any current doctors or therapists who should join your new care team? We will work cooperatively with your existing primary care physician and other professionals to provide the best possible treatment for you.

Once I’m in the program, what happens next?

After you are admitted to our outpatient program, we will create a team to implement a holistic, individualized treatment plan in partnership with you. Your care team may include:

A psychiatrist to oversee medications

A primary treatment coordinator, often a therapist

A registered dietician

A registered nurse practitioner

A skilled family therapist

A certified alcohol and drug therapist (CADC), if appropriate

We may also refer you to other consulting healthcare providers who can address medical issues that should be resolved as part of your recovery.

Each team member brings extensive experience to the table. All will work together to provide an integrated approach to your personal care plan.

You can expect to take part in individual and group therapy as part of your treatment plan. You may also likely receive a prescription for medications to help with your recovery. As you progress, your care team will work closely with you to determine what’s working, what’s not working and make adjustments to foster your progress.

What is my responsibility in the recovery process?

Unlike some diseases, where all you need to do is lie on a table and let the doctor care for you, recovering from drug or alcohol addiction is very hard work.

You must be fully committed to the process. You must want to get better and devote yourself to the pursuit of wellness. The good news is that you won’t have to walk that road alone.

At SunCloud Health, you will have direct, daily access to some of the best treatment providers in the country. When you feel like something is working well, we want you to let us know. At the same time, if something feels uncomfortable or you feel you just don’t fit in, we want to know that too so we can work out a good solution for you.

Evidence-based treatment for drug and alcohol addiction

The SunCloud Health team offers a full range of effective treatment for men and women who are struggling with alcohol and drugs. The therapy that will work best for you will be determined after we’ve talked with you and learned more about your unique needs.

The following are types of therapy we provide for treatment of substance abuse disorder:

Expressive and experiential therapy

Skills-based therapy such as DBT, ACT and CBT

12-step recovery programs and facilitation

Education about the disease, its effects on you, your mind, your soul and your body

Group sessions to teach and practice healthy interpersonal and relationship management

Meal support and regular consultation with dietary staff as needed

Regular psychiatric consultations

Family therapy, including family participation if appropriate

Yoga and body image therapy, when appropriate

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), if appropriate

Care that supports you and your family

At SunCloud Health, we view the whole family system as a critical component of your treatment. We want to help you feel supported in every area of your life, starting with your family relationships.

Family therapy engages all family members in a healing process, rather than just focusing on the person with the drug problem. We counsel parents and partners and provide caring, effective education to strengthen families and foster a nurturing home environment.

Please know that we will obtain your consent before involving any family member or other individual in your treatment plan. At all times, you are the one who guides important choices such as who you will work with in recovery.

Dr. Kim and the team at SunCloud Health have treated thousands of people with substance use disorders. We know that no two people are alike. Your treatment plan will be as individual and unique as you are.

Behind most substance abuse disorder issues is a wellspring of pain. This may take the form of physical, emotional or spiritual suffering and is often accompanied by a sense of alienation, loss of meaning and the mistaken belief that drugs or alcohol will make us feel better.

If you’re using drugs or alcohol, you may believe your addiction is not the problem, but instead, that it’s an attempt to solve a bigger problem. You are seeking something we all want: a satisfying, abundant, balanced life.

At SunCloud Health, we treat you as a human being who has courageously come forward for help and support. We believe you and your family should receive the full measure of our compassion and expertise.

Addiction to drugs and alcohol can create serious medical complications if left untreated. Our medical team will work seamlessly with your therapists to help you regain your physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Can you help me with care and support after treatment?

As an outpatient treatment center, SunCloud Health can offer support for as long as you agree our services are useful. You may decide to stay connected through one of our aftercare outpatient groups – or you may want to continue seeing one of our individual therapists. We are here to provide continuous, caring support for your recovery journey.

Though we totally understand that you don’t want to spend your life in treatment, we also know from experience that a lifetime commitment to wellness is what will help you get clean and stay clean. We will work with you to maintain a healthy outlook, which means achieving balance, honesty, and overall health — physical, emotional and spiritual. Our goal is to create a care plan that you can take with you forever, wherever you may go.

The treatment team at SunCloud gets it. They practice what they preach, they are compassionate and they are true professionals. They all understand what I am going through and they have guided me from a hopeless place of disease to recovery and a life worth living. Most importantly they have helped me realize that I am worth something and that I don’t have to use in order to cope with life and all that comes with it. Recovery can be amazing. Trust me. The work is not easy and it is totally worth it! Today I am alive.

SCH patient

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Our Mission

SunCloud Health is a private outpatient treatment center in Northbrook, Illinois, serving patients in Chicago and the North Suburbs. The SunCloud team provides caring, individualized treatment for adults and adolescents who are dealing with substance abuse, eating disorders, mood disorders, trauma and PTSD. Our integrative approach focuses on the unique history and needs of each patient, with special emphasis on helping those who are struggling with more than one issue. We help our patients work toward sustainable, lifelong recovery within the comfort and convenience of an outpatient setting.

Hours

Call us: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week
All calls will be returned within 24 hours.
Emergencies: Please go to the nearest emergency room or dial 911
Treatment appointments: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week

Accreditations, Certifications, and Licensing

Joint Commission Behavioral Health Care Accreditation.

The Joint Commission signifies that all people always experience the safest, highest quality, best-value health care across all settings with a devotion to patient safety. The Gold Seal, is a symbol to the community and patients we serve that SunCloud Health has placed an emphasis on quality of care.